Free RSV vaccine targeting newborns available for pregnant women, Mark Butler to announce

The immunity protection program for pregnant women will start from February 3 and is aimed at protecting newborns from the life-threatening virus until they are six months old.

Deanne Tingey with her children, Benjamin and Winter. Winter was hospitalised with RSV when she was just six weeks old and is still recovering.

Pregnant women will be offered free RSV vaccines as part of the National Immunisaton Program from February 3, Health Minister Mark Butler will announce on Sunday.

When given to expectant mothers, the vaccine is expected to also protect their babies until they are six months old. Respiratory syncytial virus causes cold-like symptoms for many people but, for some, it can cause severe illness.

Those most vulnerable include the very young. It’s a situation Deanne Tingey is familiar with. Her daughter, Winter, caught RSV when she was just six weeks old and became severely ill and required hospitalisation.

“Winter was struggling to breathe and needed oxygen,” Ms Tingey said.

“She also had to have a gastric tube inserted through her nose to help her feed because she was too congested to drink from a bottle. Over the next week in hospital, her oxygen levels would drop every time they tried to take her off support. It was particularly concerning when she fell asleep; her congestion was so severe that she would forget to breathe during sleep if the oxygen wasn’t on.”

Ms Tingey said while the experience was awful and Winter has experienced ongoing illness, she was grateful her daughter did not require treatment in intensive care like some other babies.

“Winter developed bronchiolitis as a result of RSV, and even months later, she still

has a lingering cough,” she said of her now nine-month-old daughter.

“We’ve also learned she has a floppy airway, and her formula needs to be thickened to help her feed properly. She now sees a speech therapist regularly to manage this ongoing issue, and we’re slowly making progress.

“This experience has shown me how important it is to be aware of the signs, especially since RSV can escalate so quickly. I hope sharing our story helps other parents feel more informed and reassured that support is available when it’s needed.”

Deanne Tingey and her daughter, Winter, who became severely ill with RSV when she was just six weeks old. Picture: Supplied.

Manufacturer Pfizer says the vaccine Abrysvo is recommended for pregnant women between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation to help protect infants from birth through to six months of age against lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV.

“This is a huge milestone to help protect infants from RSV and will provide long-awaited support for many Australian families. We believe an RSV program such as this, is likely to keep 10,000 babies out of hospital every single year. Australia leads the world with some of the highest maternal vaccination rates, and I expect that to continue with the introduction of a maternal RSV vaccine,” the founding director of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia, Catherine Hughes, said.

The government will spend $174.5 million to ensure the vaccine is available to expectant mothers for free, though some doctors may charge fees to deliver it. Without subsidy, the vaccine would cost patients around $300.

“Almost all infants will get RSV in their first two years,” Mr Butler said.

“This is a world-leading approach to reduce the impact of RSV on babies. Our combination approach, in partnership with each State and Territory, will ensure that every single infant in Australia is protected ahead of the winter RSV season.”

Abrysvo was approved for use in pregnant women by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in March 2024 and, last November, the government flagged its intention to add it to the NIP.

“Prevention through vaccination is critical to protecting all Australians from infectious disease, particularly our most vulnerable populations,” Pfizer Australia and New Zealand managing director Anne Harris said.